WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 18-ranked Wheeling Jesuit in a battle of Atlantic Region powers Tuesday night at the ASRC.
    Coach Kayla Mull's Hilltoppers (21-9, 9-5), No. 10 in the latest regional rankings, stumbled out of the gate as the Cardinals (29-3, 14-0) posted convincing 25-15 and 25-17 wins in the first two sets.
    Wheeling Jesuit, which has never lost a Mountain East Conference match during the league's six years of existence, seemed on the verge of completing another routine sweep when it opened up a 20-15 lead in the third set but the Black and Gold battled back.
    West Liberty scored five of the next seven points to pull within 22-20 but WJU held on to serve for the match at 24-22. The scrappy Hilltoppers not only fought off that match point, they fought off the next four before the Cardinals finally were able to close out a 29-27 win.
    Raimey Benson led the Black and Gold with 11 kills and 2 blocks while Kailee Cunningham added 9 kills and 9 digs. Olivia Baumhoer and Madison Clayton finished with 7 and 6 kills, respectively, while splitting 4 blocks. Renee Lemke had 20 assists and Mackenzie Sims paced West Liberty with 21 digs.
    The Hilltoppers will try to bounce back on Friday night when they host Notre Dame (Ohio) in a "Dig for the Cure" match. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the ASRC.